‘The town will fail if this carries on’: Tofino’s short-term rental flip-flop
By Nora O’Malley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ha-Shilth-Sa Tofino, B.C. – Indigenous business owner Brian Quick points to a For Sale sign across the street from his barbershop on Tofino’s Campbell Street. The 12,389 square-foot property with a mix of commercial space below and residential units above is listed at roughly $2.4 million. Quick sighs. “That’s the kind of property only people with generational wealth can afford. It’s hard busting into their world,” he says. He wants to see more Nuu-chah-nulth people own businesses in town, but as Ahousaht Tyee Ha’wilth Maquinna (Lewis George) says, “everybody has missed the boat now on purchasing property in Tofino”. Maquinna is one of the only Nuu-chah-nulth members in Tofino who owns a short-term rental. In 1994 he opened the House of Himwitsa Lodge,...
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First Nation school in Chilcotin celebrates first-ever graduation
By Andie Mollins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Williams Lake Tribune In the community of Tl’etinqox, just over an hour west of Williams Lake, five students are celebrating a particularly special graduation. “We’ve been excited about it for a while,” said Kris Hance about his school’s first ever graduation. At the age of 15, Hance is not only counted among the school’s first graduates – he is also his class’s youngest graduate and co-valedictorian. “We’ve spent hours talking about it, just talking about the technicalities of the graduation.” With a total student population today of about 60, Tl’etinqox school has traditionally taught students from Kindergarten to Grade 6, after which children had to leave their community to complete their schooling. Co-valedictorian Kris Hance is only 15 years old and will...
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How the militaries of Israel and Iran compare
By Christopher Bodeen TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Israeli strikes on Iran on Friday and Tehran’s vows of reprisals have brought the two Middle East adversaries closer to an all-out war, which also threatens to draw in the United States, at least to some degree. So how do the militaries of Iran and Israel stack up against each other? Iran boasts a large standing force but also relies on proxies and undercover operations that have been severely disabled in recent months by U.S. and Israeli actions. Israel, meanwhile, relies on both subterfuge and robust regular ground and air forces that are apparently unmatched in the region. Though roughly equal in the number of troops, the two militaries bring strikingly different tactics and firepower. Where does Iran stand? On paper, Iran would...
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US appeals court refuses to overturn Biden approval of Alaska’s Willow oil project
By Becky Bohrer JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A federal appeals court panel on Friday refused to overturn the approval of the massive Willow oil project on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope. The decision from a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes in a long-running dispute over the project, which was greenlit in March 2023 by then-President Joe Biden’s administration and is being developed in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska by ConocoPhillips Alaska. The court’s majority opinion found what it called a procedural but not substantive error by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management as part of the analysis in approving Willow. The majority determined that overturning the project’s approval would be unwarranted and its consequences severe. During the cold-weather seasons, ConocoPhillips Alaska has worked to build infrastructure such...
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Wildfire near two Ontario First Nations ‘like a sleeping giant’ for now, MPP says
By Liam Casey A provincial legislator says a massive wildfire that has forced the evacuation of two northern Ontario First Nations is like a “sleeping giant” at the moment. Sol Mamakwa, the New Democrat representative for Kiiwetinoong, visited Sandy Lake First Nation on Thursday. Much of the community of 2,000 people has been forced to leave for different parts of Ontario because of the fire known as Red Lake 12. Ontario officials say the fire is more than 160,000 hectares in size and not under control. The same fire earlier forced the evacuation of Deer Lake First Nation, though fire rangers have now successfully created a fire break around the perimeter of the community. Mamakwa says about 200 people remain in Sandy Lake First Nation, along with the fire rangers....
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Wildfire near two Ontario First Nations ‘like a sleeping giant’ for now, MPP says
By Liam Casey A provincial legislator says a massive wildfire that has forced the evacuation of two northern Ontario First Nations is like a “sleeping giant” at the moment. Sol Mamakwa, the New Democrat representative for Kiiwetinoong, visited Sandy Lake First Nation on Thursday. Much of the community of 2,000 people has been forced to leave for different parts of Ontario because of the fire known as Red Lake 12. Ontario officials say the fire is more than 160,000 hectares in size and not under control. The same fire earlier forced the evacuation of Deer Lake First Nation, though fire rangers have now successfully created a fire break around the perimeter of the community. Mamakwa says about 200 people remain in Sandy Lake First Nation, along with the fire rangers....
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First Nation leaders burn Ring of Fire documents to protest Ontario’s Bill 5
By Carl Meyer, The Narwhal Leadership at a Treaty 9 First Nation set fire to documents about a proposed road to the Ring of Fire this week, sending a message of resistance to the Doug Ford government about its plans to kick-start mining in the region by pushing through Bill 5 without Indigenous consultation. Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation Coun. Sam Mckay told The Narwhal that individuals, whose names he still doesn’t know, flew into the remote community north of Thunder Bay, Ont., unannounced on June 10 to deliver the draft environmental assessment. said the nation’s chief and councillors felt they had to respond. The document burning, captured on video and posted online, is a symbol of the nation’s opposition to both the road and Bill 5, Premier Ford’s fast-tracking law...
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Air raid sirens sound across Israel following an Iranian missile attack on the country
By Jon Gambrell, Josef Federman And Julia Frankel DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Air raid sirens have sounded across Israel ahead following an Iranian missile attack on the country. The rumble of explosions could be heard throughout Jerusalem, and Israeli TV stations showed plumes of smoke rising in Tel Aviv after an apparent missile strike. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The army said dozens of missiles were launched. The army has ordered residents across the country to move into bomb shelters. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. The following is AP’s previous story. Israel launched blistering attacks on the heart of Iran’s nuclear and military structure Friday, deploying warplanes and drones previously smuggled into the country to attack key facilities and kill top generals and scientists —...
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‘We understand’: Creemergency supporting forest fire evacuees
By Marissa Lentz-McGrath, Local Journalism Initiative, TimminsToday.com KAPUSKASING – When the wildfires got too close, hundreds of people from Sandy Lake First Nation had no choice but to leave everything behind. In Kapuskasing, they were met by a team that knows exactly what that feels like. Creemergency — a partnership between Kashechewan First Nation and the O’Briens Group – was activated on June 8 to help manage the influx of people from Sandy Lake First Nation, where wildfires have forced evacuations. Within hours, the team was welcoming the first flights and working into the early morning to ensure everyone arriving had what they needed. Over 400 residents from the northwestern Ontario community are in Kapuskasing. “We provide a full wraparound service for evacuees,” said Creemergency CEO Tyson Wesley. “Bus shuttles,...
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What to know about Israel’s major attack on Iran
By Isabel Debre And Julia Frankel JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel launched a major attack on Iran Friday, drawing their long-running shadow war into open conflict in a way that could spiral into a wider, more dangerous regional war. The strikes set off explosions in the capital of Tehran as Israel said it was targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities. Among those killed were three of Iran’s top military leaders, one who oversaw the entire armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, one who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami, and another who ran the Guard’s ballistic missile program, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Two top nuclear scientists also had been killed. Israel said it killed additional Revolutionary Guard members. Israel said Iran retaliated by sending over 100 drones toward Israel, most...
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Activist picks up keys to unlock longtime dream
By Marissa Lentz-McGrath, Local Journalism Initiative, TimminsToday.com Vanessa Brousseau is hitting the road, not for a vacation, but for a mission rooted in grief, advocacy, and hope. The North Bay-based Indigenous activist, who grew up in Timmins, has bought an RV to travel across the country and raise awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S). Her journey, set to begin June 28, is the realization of a long-held dream, one sparked in part by the 2003 disappearance of her sister, Pamela Holopainen. “It still seems unreal,” said Brousseau, speaking to TimminsToday while en route to pick up the RV in Ottawa on Tuesday. “It doesn’t seem like it’s actually happening, because it’s been a dream for so long” Brousseau recently launched a GoFundMe campaign that...
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Canada Infrastructure Bank invests in wind project to power hamlet of Sanikiluaq, Nunavut
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com A bit of history was made in the Inuit hamlet of Sanikiluaq on June 11. It was announced that the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has reached financial close on its first investment in Nunavut. The $6.7 million loan will result in a life-changing clean energy project in Sanikiluaq. The initiative, which is called the Anuriqjuak Nukkiksautiit Project (ANP), will feature a one-megawatt wind turbine and a one megawatt-hour energy storage system. The project is expected to offset up to 70 per cent of Sanikiluaq’s diesel usage. “In Nunavut all of the communities are relying on diesel,” said Hillary Thatcher, CIB’s managing director of investments. “So, this will be a community that will see a significant reduction in diesel consumption for electricity. And...
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Canada’s biggest off-grid solar project coming to B.C.’s Chilcotin
By Andie Mollins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Williams Lake Tribune The Ulkatcho Energy Corporation (UEC) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, June 11 as construction begins on the Anahim Lake Solar Project. Located at the western edge of B.C.’s Chilcotin, Ulkatcho First Nation will soon access solar generated power from Canada’s largest off-grid solar project, expected to complete construction in October 2025. 100 per cent owned by UEC, a member of the nation’s Ulkatcho Group of Companies (UGoC), the project is expected to reduce the use of diesel in the remote community by 64 per cent, about 1.1 million litres per year, and to significantly reduce carbon emissions in the region. “This solar project in Anahim Lake marks a new path for the Ulkatcho First Nation, creating significant lasting...
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Liberals under fire for rushing bill through Parliament to speed up resource projects
By Kyle Duggan Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is coming under fire for seeking to rush through a major piece of legislation that grants cabinet sweeping powers to quickly approve major projects. Government House leader Steven MacKinnon put a motion on notice Thursday that would push Bill C-5 through the House of Commons by the end of next week — leaving just one day to hear from civil society groups, stakeholders and experts. Critics charge the move is anti-democratic. In a fiery exchange in question period, Bloc Québécois House Leader Christine Normandin accused Prime Minister Mark Carney of trying to “steamroll” a bill through the House that would greatly expand his own powers. “The prime minister has no right to impose C-5 under closure when the bill gives him exceptional...
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Protests at G7 summit in Alberta set to be largely peaceful, targeting Trump policies
By Fakiha Baig Protests during the upcoming G7 leaders summit in Kananaskis, Alta., may be starkly different than demonstrations happening this week against immigration crackdowns in the United States. A University of Toronto research group that has been monitoring the meetings of world leaders since 1998 says its analysis shows Canadian protests are more peaceful and smaller. But similar to the recent demonstrations in Los Angeles, they’re likely to be against the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump. “The Los Angeles protests will add another (issue) the protesters going there already care about, but it won’t do anything much more than that,” said John Kirton, director of the G7 Research Group. “I don’t think it’ll bring more protesters, too. Nor will the L.A. protests delay Trump from coming here.” Prime...
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Continued failure to consult on uranium exploration a harmful mistake: Mi’kmaw Chiefs
By Lyndsay Armstrong Nova Scotia’s continued failure to consult with First Nations on uranium exploration is a mistake that will further erode the province’s relationship with Mi’kmaq communities, says the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs and a lawyer from Sipekne’katik First Nation. Pictou Landing First Nation Chief Tamara Young said the Mi’kmaq people were neither consulted nor notified when Nova Scotia introduced then passed a bill that opens the province up to potential uranium mining and fracking. “The lack of consultation is unacceptable and goes against the UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples),” Young said in a statement to The Canadian Press on Wednesday. The assembly has said they will continue to oppose both uranium exploration and hydraulic fracturing until their environmental concerns have been...
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Alberta to explore injecting oilsands tailings underground as one management option
By Jack Farrell The Alberta government says it is considering letting oil companies inject wastewater deep underground as a way to manage the toxic tailings that are accumulating in the oilsands. The idea is one of five policy recommendations being put forward by a government-appointed committee tasked with studying potential tailings management options. A new report from the committee, which was formed over a year ago and is chaired by United Conservative MLA Tany Yao of Fort McMurray, says injecting mine water underground is a practical solution — but considering over 1.4 trillion litres of tailings exist as of 2023, it can’t be the only option. “The accumulation of (oilsands mine water) represents a management challenge, particularly in the absence of established water release standards,” the report reads. “This approach...
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Protesters urge government to ‘Kill Bill 5’
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source THUNDER BAY – Kevin Holland, the MPP for Thunder Bay–Atikokan, says the new Protect Ontario act doesn’t take away Indigenous rights. Lucille Atlookan sees it differently. “Yeah, that’s bullshit,” the Eabametoong First Nation member said Thursday. Atlookan was among more than 100 protesters outside the Progressive Conservative MPP’s constituency office on James Street calling for the repeal of Bill 5, the recently passed Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act. Her picket sign read “Protect the Land.” Others implored Premier Doug Ford’s government to honour treaties and “Kill Bill 5.” Caro Whipp, a self-described “settler” who co-organized the flash rally against Bill 5, said “if (Holland) was in his office today, he would see the constituents out here today who...
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B.C. Independent MLAs start new party to ‘combat the globalist assault’
By Ashley Joannou Two former members of the B.C. Conservatives who have been sitting as Independents for months say they are launching a new provincial political party. Dallas Brodie, the MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena, posted on social media Thursday that she is the interim leader of the party called One BC, along with house leader Tara Armstrong, who represents Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream. In a post on Instagram, Brodie said she built the new party for British Columbians who are “proud of their history and aren’t afraid to fight for a prosperous and beautiful future.” “I knew it was time to build something new, to reverse the flight of capital, talent, and young people, to combat the globalist assault on our history, culture and families, to rebuild our corrupted institutions and crumbling infrastructure,”...
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Removal of hundreds of illegal cattle in the Amazon sparks protests and divides residents
By Fabiano Maisonnave BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — The removal of hundreds of cattle raised illegally on public land designated for sustainable forest use in Brazil’s Amazon has sparked protests and divided residents, with some seeking to preserve rubber-tapping and Brazil nut harvesting and others wanting to consolidate livestock farming. The removal operation started last week in one of the country’s most renowned Amazon conservation units, the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve, named for the famed rubber tapper and environmentalist killed in 1988. Federal agents working with police and military officials seized around 400 heads of cattle from two farmers who had failed to comply with judicial eviction orders. The raids are set to continue in the coming weeks. But dozens of residents of the reserve protested the action, seeking to create...
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